This new manual, which is aimed at students of the embryology/development of marine invertebrates, is a very useful NW European counterpart to the manuals from Woods Hole (Costello & Henley Citation1971) and Friday Harbor (Strathmann Citation1987). However, the three books differ in several aspects. The Woods Hole book deals with a large number of species, but is very brief about methods and has nothing about the rearing of larvae. The Friday Harbor book deals with many species and has a comprehensive chapter on methods, including the rearing of planktotrophic larvae. The Helgoland volume concentrates on selected species of cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, echinoderms and ascidians, with detailed descriptions of normal development; it gives extensive information about methods, including a number of experimental procedures, but almost nothing about the rearing of larvae.
The first chapter of the book describes general techniques and is full of useful hints about the handling and care of the eggs and embryos. It also comprises a section about the use of dissecting and compound microscopes. For future editions, I would suggest adding a short introduction to the use of the scanning electron microscope. This instrument is now found in most research institutes, and it seems important to make it clear that it is easy and quick to use. Embryos and larvae are so small that they can be fixed and prepared for the microscope in a few hours, and the results will complement the observations from the light microscope (and in 3D!).
Each chapter on the chosen groups of animals begins with a description of the normal development of one or a few selected species, with an emphasis on fertilization, cleavage types, cell lineage and, in some cases, organogenesis. The fully developed larvae and their settling/metamorphosis are dealt with more briefly. A large section on laboratory studies describes how to obtain and handle gametes, to obtain fertilization, to observe structures and processes and several protocols for experiments which demonstrate various aspects of development. The methods are described in detail and should be easy to follow.
All chapters have lists of useful references.
An appendix lists the major marine stations in NW Europe with their web addresses.
Small errors can be found in almost every book, but I have only spotted two in this one. It is stated that the trochophore of Pomatoceros has a telotroch, but this ciliary band is probably absent in all serpulids. Chaetopterids are stated to be subtidal, but one species of Chaetopterus is rather common intertidally, for example at Roscoff.
The Helgoland Manual is a highly recommended handbook for anybody who wants to begin studies of the development of invertebrates at a marine station on the European NW coast, not only by observing normal development, but also by making experiments which can throw light on the mechanisms of development. It is also a perfect manual for use in courses on marine invertebrate zoology.
In the Introduction it is stated that ‘the main purpose of this book is to rouse interest in … [an] empirical approach to developmental biology’. I am sure that the book will fulfil this purpose.
Claus Nielsen
Professor Emeritus
Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
E-mail: [email protected]
© 2014 Claus Nielsen
References
- Costello DP, Henley C. 1971. Methods for Obtaining and Handling Marine Eggs and Embryos, 2nd edition. Woods Hole, MA: Marine Biological Laboratory. 245 pages.
- Strathmann, M. 1987. Reproduction and Development of Marine Invertebrates of the North Pacific Coast. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 670 pages.